Blizzard doesn’t want to start over with World of Warcraft and its director comments on a problematic “pattern” with events. World of Warcraft Director Ion Hazzikostas discusses the studio’s plans for its future.

Blizzard is celebrating the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft. Over the past two decades, players have enjoyed countless events, expansions, and varied content within the MMORPG. However, many are already looking ahead, asking: where is WoW headed? In an interview with GamesRadar+, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas shed light on Blizzard’s plans to tackle recurring issues and addressed the industry trend of “starting over” with new iterations.

This discussion was published via GamesRadar+. Addressing one of the most frequently criticized aspects of the MMORPG, Hazzikostas noted that the last four major events, including the 20th anniversary, needed adjustments in how rewards were distributed. According to him, the issue has become so persistent that “it can start to look like a pattern.” “Looking at the 20th anniversary, there are plenty of things to do and many fresh and exciting experiences for players to explore with the 11.05 update,” Hazzikostas explained. “At the same time, we want to ensure people don’t run out of reasons to engage with content they might otherwise enjoy too quickly.”

“Even if you’ve enjoyed the 20th anniversary, there’s this feeling of, ‘I’ve already invested a lot of time in dungeons and leveling side characters. This [reward drop rates initially being too low] feels like a big ask,’” he added. “That was something we didn’t realize until we heard the feedback loud and clear after the event went live.”

“We can always enhance the rewards,” Hazzikostas continued. “We’re never going to nerf rewards, right? If things are too generous, we’ll never walk that back. That said, while we play the guessing game to find the right balance, we tend to err on the side of caution.” Even so, Blizzard is ready to address mistakes promptly: “Hopefully, players understand that if we fail, we’ll respond quickly and fix things,” he assured. “We’re listening closely to community feedback.”

World of Warcraft Has Been Completely “Rebuilt” Over Time

In another part of the GamesRadar+ interview, Hazzikostas spoke about the trend of developing sequels for live-service games like Overwatch 2 or SMITE 2. Could a similar transformation happen with World of Warcraft? “Theoretically, at some distant point, it’s something we could seriously consider,” said Hazzikostas. “But right now, we have a huge, vibrant, growing community we’re thrilled to serve.”

Hazzikostas compared WoW to the Theseus’ Ship paradox, as so much of the game has been replaced or improved that it’s no longer the same as it was in 2004. “We’re constantly replacing foundational systems with ones that work better with our new server architecture, updated graphics pipelines, and modern multiplayer interactions,” he explained. “With millions of players in this vibrant world, our priority is to serve them in the best possible way – continuing to expand their journeys, evolve the worlds we build, and make improvements that align with what today’s audience values most.”

Source: 3djuegos